Feed regulator for sewing machines



Nov. 9, 1943. A. R. WOOD FEED-REGULATOR FOR SEWING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1941 Mommy fir 0496 602 2. ll/00a? &

NOV. 9, 1943. R WOOD FEED-REGULATOR FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed DecflS,1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sla Nov. 9, 1943. A. R. WOOD 2,334,154

FEED-REGULA'I'QR FQR SEWING MACHINE:

Filed Dec. 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M l/real L Zdooa? tion.

Patented Now 9, 1943 UNITEDJSTATES; PATENT {OFFICE l f. 2,ss4,154t"fi .0rEEiiREoonATortFo sliwrneivmoirmas Alfred R. Wood; liridgeportjconnl,assigr'ionto TheSing'er Manufacturing" Company, Elizabeth, N. J a,corporation of New Jersey npplication'becernber 1s, 1941;Ma a-422m Thisinvention relates to sewingmachinesand more particularly to animprovement in feedregulators for buttonhole' sewing machines of thetype disclosed in the II. S. patent to E. B. Allen, No. 784,291, issuedMarch "1, 1905,

In'the use of buttonhole se ing machine s'rit is frequently necessarywhen changing from one character of-work to another that thenumber ofstitches required in the entire buttonholeihe venient application uponmachines already in the V varied. It is, of coursegdesirablga that thehut- 10 tonhole machine be equipped with a suitable feed-regulator whichJ will provide means conveniently accessible for manipulationtby' theoperator by which the number of stitches produced the solution of thisproblem that applicant has addressed himself. r f

In prior machines of. the type illustrated in the above mentioned Allenpaten'tQme'ans were fecting an adjustment of said means it was necessaryto. displace the machine out of its normal A further object ofthepresent invention is the provision of aieed-regulator designed sothat5 adjustment of the number of stitches comprising the .buttonholemay. bemade'overa wide range. A still further object of the p ifes'entinvention isthe provisionof a feed-regulator for buttonhole machineswhichis' capable' of being operated to change the number oistitches in abutton hole duringflthe operation of the machine.

Q YWith the aboveand other objects in' View, as

. willhgreinai'trappear, the' invention comprises in the buttonhole maybe varied, It is toward 15 provided which the number of stitchesin the'20 buttonhole could be controlled, However, ef

machine. Moreover,-sinceno micrometer adj ust- Vment was provided on theprior machinesa trialand-error method had to be followed'fin'orjdei' toobtain the correct number of stitches in the tonhole. During-theprocedure of obtaining the proper number of stitches, the sewingmach'ine;

had to be-repeatedly titled backwardlybetiiveh adjustments, thusrequiring the expenditure of considerable effort by the operator inendeavoring, to, obtain the desired number of stitchesinthe buttonhole.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the pres ent invention toprovid'e'an improved feed-reguiator for buttonholemaohiries' which willpermit the adjustment of the riumber of stitches in the tonhole machinefrom its normal operating. posi- It is a further objector theinventionto provide an improved f eed-regulatorior buttonhole' machines withwhich major orminoradjustments can be accomplished with equal iacilit'y.

Another object of thepresent inventionis the' j provision of an improvedfeed regulator device ,which is self -contained and adapted for icon- 55skilled in jithje art. 9

the devicesgcombinations and. arrangements of parts hereinafter setforth and illustrated ihfthe accompanying drawingsof apreferredembodiment of the invention. from whioh 'the several. ieaturesoi theinvention and the'advantagesattained thereby will be readily understoodby those The invention will ferringfltothe accompanying drawings, inwhich: Fig.-.l isa rightside elevational viewbf a Singer. Ciass- 71b'uttonhole'sewing machine equipped with a preierre'd 'forni'p'ftheinventi'on,

showing the machinetin fulllines and the sup,-

portingbase uponiwhich the machine rests in dot- Fig. 2 is. a bottomlofthe shown in Fig. 1, with the wrench iisedtolaldjust thefeed'-.regulator inidotted lines-f 1 Fig; 31s a vertical sectional viewtaken through the standard. or" the machine, showing the drivingconnections'between the main-shaft and the 5 feed-shaft actuating.clutch.

Fig. 4 is an nlarged vertical sectional View 7 taken transversely of theslotted arcuat'e clutchactuating arm and through. the. slide-block Mmounted thereon, showingfthe linkconection with the slide-block; theparts illustratedbeing. shown in aninverted position. K 1 Fig. 5 is an,enlarged horizontal "section-a1 view takenthrough the right anglebrackeh'whichis H buttorihole "without having" to displace t -but-,ceiving spindle.

freely f ulcrurned upon lower ,end of the feedshaft; showing thebevel-gear connection between the threaded adjustingi rod andfthewrench-rehdis aveirtical sectional view taken stantially along theline.8-'8; Fig. '1.

in see eva e v ar:

larged vertical sectional view takensubstantially along the line 6'6,Fig; 2.. i

o Figf'l is a vertical sectional view taken through the bed, 1illustrating ,a modification of the [feedregulatonplemental to theneedle 7 in the formation of lock? g:

stitches is a conventionalcscillating shuttle. 3

with thestitch-forming mechanism to properly shift the work-clampandproduce the desired buttonhole or tack determined bylthe cam groovescut in the feed-cam I I. 4

The internal clutch-plate 21 and the clutchcylinders 3| areretained inposition within the flange 3i! provided on the feed-cam H by means of a,spring-plate 33 which is secured upon the reduc d l'cwer. end-portion;:34 of the feed-shaft driven by the bed-shaft fi operativelyconnected tothe main-shaft 5 in a manner represented in U. s, Patent No. "134,291,issued to E. B...A.11..enl1 n March 7, 1 905. I a v a As is. customaryin machines of the ty zie se i of the feed-shaft I2, and that by varyingthis lected to illustrate the present invention, the Work to be sewn isretained in a work-clamp'rep:

resentedby the reference numeral 10. By means of" th'e 'workwlamp thework is slowly moved ten-bws p f on n er end rec p cj'atoryandiaterally'vibratory needle 1; first-away from the standard 2 and thentowards thestanfdjo 'cause 'thejfirst and'seco'nd rows of side s vbarring 'stitche's may "beformed prothe-machinei's fitted with'abarringdevice. The "workclamp" "l0 derives its '"step-by-step to be laidside by side in the work. v erows' of side stitches the usualmovementsfrcm'in feed-cam-H secured upon the}owe;- end of'a feed-shaftI2: the connections between the'work-clamp and feed-cam being con- ;jstl ilc'ted subsjtantiallyid accordance with the d c osli'ie in the U55.Patent-No. 785,061, 'issued Thej feed-shait I2 is operatively 'connectedtfo I2 by a nut 35, see Fig. 6.

a It will be understood from the accompanying drawings taken inconnection with the above description that the amount. of turn impartedto the"- f eedsha-,ft for each rotation of the mainsl ratt 5 dependsupon the distance the slideblock :23 is" removed from the longitudinalaxis distance the amount of turn imparted to the teed-Jshaftandconsequently the spacing between successive stitchesin the buttonhole ortack may l ef-controlled.

The preferred jm eansemployed for shifting sli iierblock'fi lengthwisefor the clutch-actuating "arm 24 comprises a screw-'thr'eadedfrod 3'6hav ing threaded-thereon intermediate its ends spaced ears"3'?"depending from the slide-block 23. As

showninF'ig; 4; the slidblook 23 is preferably attached to theclutcheactuat ing arm 2'4 by means of a-slide 3 8 located in the'T-s'haped sldb Ofjt'he clutchfact uatingarmwhich slide U8 pivotallysecured to the slide-block 23 by the stud 4'8 As will be observed inFig. 5 the screwthreaded rod isjournaled at its inner end in 'triemenace through mechani'sm designed toimpartuntermittent. rotary movementto the feed-shaft. It is to animprovement in a portion of thishiechanisn'i that the presentinventi'on is directed. a \l hown in Figs. 2 andthe main-shaft 5 h fixed thereon anec'centric' I8 embraced'by the 1 151" endfo'f afpitman 1'4 connected-ht its iock-"shaft' H5 journaled upona pivot-rod 1-1 fixed the lugsr [8-, Iii depending from the bed '1'."Depending from'th'e tubularrock shaft It andpref- 'emblyrormeaintegrally therewith is an arm-1 a provided at its lower end with aspherical portiofn -2 D embraced by one'en d "of a link 21 of which theother endeinbraces a spherical portion 22 t. "provided on apivot-blo'ck23 'adjustably mounted on a; slotted .arcuate"clutch actuating arm '26.The jclutchea'etua'ting arm (Fig; 2) at one end is secured by threescrews Zia-m1 a locating pin a: supporting bracket" 41'- freely'fulcrurned upon th'efreduced lower end-portion 34 of" the f-ed shaftHand retained thereon. by means of a capscrew A2,. In order to rotate,the "screw-threaded bai'fthereby tc'shift the slide-block 23' length-v;mseiortne clutch-actutttmg alfm '2! toward or away from the axis df the"feed-shaft 12, the rod 'sfi is; preferably provided on its inner 'endwith Ia bevel gear -48 in 'mes h 'wi-th a'se'cond bev-el gear'jourrraled in v the "supporting bracket--H.

fsicrew threaded rod 38 is "prevented from moving end iser'e'lative toits supporting bracket-41 by thegear tft em; a collar 4 3" whichis-secure'd on the a seby e set-screwts" (Fig, '5).- The 2 5% the bottomface of an internalspiderpr v I clutch-plate 21 which is formed withthree peripheral notches '28 having slightly eccentric b'ot- 1 tom walls29. 'Ifhe internal 'clutch-platefifis received within the recessedbottom face of the, ieed-cam ll having afian'ge 30 which,'tqgether withthe Walls of the notches 28 form pockets for the reception cf*clutch-memb ers 3 l which-in the "preferred" form comprise cylinders ofballs.

Springs 3? within the pockets normally bias the "clutchl ine'mbersffi'lin a 'dire'ctionto wedge-them betweenthej'ccnc'entricinner face of thefla nge B'Wan'd the eccentric bottom walls 298 of the respectivenotches 28*, thereby establishing'dgriving relation between the internalclutch plate 2:1 "and the feed-earn "L l". q 'By, means of; the'clutchfiust described theffeed -cain' i "and the feed-shaft f2 areintermittently 'rot'atedf-in timed relation scmw-threaddrcd [35, meansis .p1'o:V1ded .for locking the rod in 'set position. This me'ansis n'-th outer 'endofthe spindle 4% is formed into 21 te f'perclhekagdnalhead '46 disposed to ccnveni en't- I ly'i'eceive the end of a Wrench 4%(shown in "djott ed lines in Fig; 2), 'a'daptedto be inserte'dtlirou'giha suitable'jclearance aperture 48 provided -"i'h-t e sidewa-l-lcf the usual machine-supporting I 9 show-nth dot dash lines in'Fig. 1--. with id-cf'the wrenchfllythe rod- 36 can becasialy v itur'n'ed and h'enceithespacing: between the stitches fincneased ordecreased, without having to tilt or displace the machine fromi-tsinormal V cperatingupositionr 'Eh'e taper-on the-hexagonal head.'4;-isj-desirable for thereason that. it iaciliwhetherkt e fi l at m ir m m lin'qrdeptopreverit accidental turning of the best snown i Fig 2and. compr se a resilient lidle 'entntt i ecuii n up f e 's nb t ne r cl ljw' ch .detent cooperates with a plurality of I serrat'i'onjs tl",formed in thefperipheral surface 1 this form the lower end of the Wrenchupon the. head'f is 'a d justably connected -tothe horizontal arm on thetubular rock-shaft: l6, whereby the effective length of the horizontalarm-is lengthenedor shortenedand hence the amplitude of the Oscillationsof ,the'clutch actuating arm is proportionally lengthened 01 shortened.As shown in Fig. 7, the tubular rock-shaft it is formed with an arm 52slotted as at 53 to receive aslide-block 54 to whichis connected by astud 55 the lower end of the pitman My At- 'through a clearance opening63 formedin th depending side-Walled of the bed l. i

It will be understood that by turning the ad-- justing rod 59, withtheaid of the wrench, the slide-block d willbe shifted 'lengthwise or theslotted horizontal arm 52, thereby changing the effective length of thearm 52 and consequently imparting moreorless oscillation to theclutchactuating arm 24 "Obviously the range ofadjustment of themodification shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, as compared-to that shown inFig.2, is considerably less, but for many classes of work is quitesuflicient. Also, it will be appreciated that both forms of design maybe incorporated in one machine, in which case one device can be adjustedto augment the action oflthe other device and thereby increase ordecrease'the magnitude of variation in the number of stitches comprisingi the buttonhole.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be understood that there has been devised an improvedieed-regulator particularly for use in buttonhole sewing machines,.which feed-regulator will permit. the convenient adjustment of thenumber of stitches in thev buttonhole' while the machine is inits'normaboperating position and v, regardless of whethertheadjustmentdesired is of major or minor character. While the rod--engaging end ofthe wrench disclosed is of conventional'design, it willbe obvious that the design may be made special, in which case the,wrench could serve as a-key and only persons authorized to change thenumber of stitches in the buttonhole could do so. I i

' While only two modifications of the, improved feed-regulator have beendisclosed, .it is obvious that other forms may be made and itismy desireto include as part of this invention all forms of the device which fallwithin the purview of the appended claims. Further,- I have chosen, for

illustration purposes only, a conventional ,I-Iorton clutch as theintermittent actuated device of the work-clamp shifting mechanism, "butit is to be understood that other forms of intermittent actuated devicesmay be used, such for instance as the device-illustrated in the'U. S.patent to work-clainp including, an intermittent actuated device, an armconnected with said intermittent actuated deviceand having an arcuatelongitudinal slot formed therein, a slide-block adjustably disposedlengthwiseof saidelongated slot, said adjusting rod being threaded intosaid slidereceived in said slot, actuating mechanism'connected tosaidfslide-block for imparting oscillations to said arm,and a pivotallymounted screwthreaded adjusting rod disposed lengthwise of 'said slotandthreaded into said slide-block, said adjusting rod having means 'atone endadapted to receive a wrench by which theadjusting rod can beconveniently turned to move the slideblock lengthwise of said arm.

2."A group-stitch sewing machine having, in

combination, a frame, a worn-clamp, and means forimpartingwork-advancing movements to said work-clamp including, an intermittentactuated devicemounted to operate about a fixed axis, an arm connectedto "said intermittent actuated device and formed with an arcuateelongatedslot, a slide-block adjustably' mounted in said slot, actuatingmechanism connected to said slideblock for imparting oscillationsto'saidarm, a

screw-threaded adjusting rod disposed lengthwise ofsaid arm and threadedinto said slideblock, said adjusting rod being supported to turn freelyabout an axis in 'alinement with the axis of said intermittent actuateddevice, and means provided at one end of said adjusting rod adapted toreceive a wrench by :whichthe adjusting rod can'be ,conveniently turnedto shift the slideblocl: lengthwise of. said slot. i

3. In a group-stitch sewing machine having a frame, a? feed-shaft, anintermittent actuated deviceoperatively connected to said feed-shaft,

an arm connectedto said feed+shait and formed withan arcuate elongatedslot, a slide-block adjustably mounted in said slot, actuating mechanismconnected to said slide-block for imparting oscillations to said arm, asupporting bracket freelyjournaled upon said feed-shaft adjacent saidarm, a screw-threaded adjusting rod secured againstendwise movement insaid bracket and block, and means provided at one end of said adjustingrod adapted to receive a wrench by which the adjusting rod, can beconveniently turned to shift the slide-block lengthwise of said 1 slot.

4. In a group-stitch sewing machine having a frame, a work-clamp, andmeansior imparting work-advancing movements to said work-clampincluding, an intermittent actuated device, an actuating arm connected,with said device, a slideblock, means securing said slide-block on saidactuating arm and permitting adjustment of said slide-block lengthwiseof said arm, actuating mechanism connected to said slide-block forimparting movement to said actuating arm, a screwthreaded adjusting roddisposed lengthwise of said arm and threaded into said slide-block, aspindle, having an axis disposed at an angle to the axis of saidadjusting rod, means operatively v onnecting said spindle with saidadjusting rod, 1 and meansprovided on said;spindle by which it can be,conveniently turned torotate said adjusting rod and shift theslide-block lengthwise of said arm; i i

5. In a group-stitch sewing machine having a frame, a work clamp, andmeans for imparting work-advancing movements to saidwork-clampincluding, an intermittent actuated device, an actuating arm connectedwith said device, a-slideblock, means securing said slide-block on saidY actuating arm and permitting adjustment of said slide-block lengthwiseof said arm, actuating mechanism connected to said slide-block forimincluding,

parting movement to said actuating arm, a screwthreaded adjusting roddisposed lengthwise of said arm and threadedv into said slide-rblock, a

spindle having an axis disposed at an'angle to the axisof said adjustingrod, means operat velyr connecting said spindle with said adjusting rod,

7 means preventing accidental turning of said adjusting rod; and meansprovided on said-spindle by which it can be conveniently turned torotate said adjusting rod and shift the slide-block lengthwise of saidarm. 7 V L 6. In a group-stitch sewing machine having aframaawork-clamp, and means for. imparting work-advancing movements to saidwork-clamp including", an intermittent actuated device, an

actuating arm connected with said device, a slideblock, means securingsaid slide-block on said. actuating arm and permitting. adjustment ofsaid slide-block lengthwise of said arm, mechanism connected to saidslide-block for imparting movement to said actuating arm, ascrew-threaded adjusting rod disposed lengthwise of said arm andthreaded intosaidslide-block, a gear mounted on said adjusting rod,a'spindle having an axis disposed at an angle to the axis of saidadjusting "rod, a gear mounted on said spindle andlin mesh with the gearon said adjusting rod, and means provided on said spindle by whichit canbe. con-- veniently turned to rotate said adjusting rod and shift theslide-block lengthwise of saidarm.

"7.1'In a group-stitch sewing machine having" a frame, a work-clamp, andmeans for imparting work-advancing movements to said work-clampincluding, an intermittent actuated device, an

- actuating arm connected with said device and formed with an arcuateelongated slot,'a slideblock adjustably mounted in' said slot, actuatingmechanism connected to said slide-block for imparting oscillations tosaid'actu'atin'g arm, a pivotally mounted supporting bracket positionedadjacent said actuating arm, a screw-threaded adjusting rodrotatablypmounted in said bracket 'an'd-disposed lengthwise of saidelongated slot, said adjustingro-d being threaded into saidslideblock, agear fixed on said adjustingro'd, a spindle; journaled in saidsupporting-bracket and arranged atan angle to said adjusting rod, a gearfix-ed on said spindle and in mesh with the gear on said adjusting rod,and means provided on-one end of said spindle to receive a wrenchbywhich the-adjusting rod can be turned to shift the" slideblocklengthwise of said slot.

8. In a, group-stitch sewing machine having a frame; a work-clamp, andmeans for imparting work-advancing movements to said work -clamp anintermittent actuated device mounted to operate about a fixed axisr anactuating arm connected to said intermittent actuated device and mountedfor oscillatory movements about said n xed axis of said intermittent,actuated device, saidactuating arm formed with [an arcuate' elongatedslot, at s-lide block adjustabiy mounted insaid slot, operatingmechanism connected to said slide-block for imparting oscillations to'said' actuating arm, asupportinge bracket positioned adjacent saidactuating arm the fixed axis; t said intermittent-actuated device, ascrew-threaded adjusting rod 'rota tably mounted in said bracket anddisposed lengthwise t andin mesh with the gear on said adjusting rod,

and means provided on one end oi'said spindle to receive a wrenchbywhich the adjusting rod can be turned to shift the slide-blocklengthwise of saidsloa '9. A group-stitch sewing machine having, in,combination, a frame, stitch-forming? mechanism including a needle, awork-clamp, and means for imparting relative movements between saidwork-clamp and needle including, an intermittent.

actuated device, an arm connected with said intermittent actuated deviceand having anarcuate longitudinal slot formed therein, a slide-blockadiustabl rcceivedin saidslot, actuating mechanism connected to saidslide-block for imparting oscillations to said arm, and means forshifting saidslide-blook insaid' arcuate slot, said lastnaimed meansincluding a bracket located beneath said intermittent actuated. deviceand supported for swinging movement, a screw-threaded adjusting rodjournaled for rotation in said bracket and threaded into saidslide-block, means for securing said screw-threaded adjusting rodagainst endwise movement relative to said bracket, and means provided-atone end of said screwthreaded adjusting rod adapted to receive, a wrenchby which the adjusting rod can be conveniently rotated to, move theslide-block 1ength' wise of said arm. s

10. In a buttonholeisewing machine having a .frame including a bracketarm and a bed-structure provided with a clearance aperture, 2.feedlshaft journaled in said frame and having its lower" end extendingwithin said bed-structure, "an intermittent actuated device operativelyconnected to the lower end of said feed-shaft, mechanism for operatingsaid intermittent actuated device including an arm; formed with anarcuate slot, 2. slide-block adjustably mounted in said slot,

anoperating: member'connected to" said slideblock, a bracket locatedbeneath said intermittent actuated device and supported for swingingmovement, a screwathireaded adjusting rod journaled for rotation in saidbracketand threaded into sai d slide-block, means for securing saidscrew-- threaded adjusting rod against endwise movement relative to saidbracket,..means providedat oneend of said adjusting rod adapted toreceive a wrench extending through the clearance aperture in saidbed-structure by whicl'rthe adjust- I ing rod can: be'rotatcd to shiftthe slide-block lengthwise of saidslot, and means for-prevent! ingaccidental rotation:- oi the adjusting rod durand fulcrumed: for freeturning movement; about of said elongatedsLo-t, said addusting: rodbeing "threaded into: said slide-block. a gear fixed: on said adjustingrod, a spindle: journaled' im-sa id supportingbracket and arranged atanangle to said adjusting: rod,- a gear fixed on said: spindle-.

Qsl-ide-blocl, means for securing said; screw-' ing the operation oi.the machine.

. II. A group-stitch sewing machine having-in.

I combination, a frame", stitcmforming mechanism including a needle, aWork-clamp,v and means for imparting relative movements between saidworkclamp and needle including, anintermittent actuated device, an armconnected with said intermittent actuated device and having anarouate-lengitudinal slot formedtherein, a slide-block adjustablyreceived in said slot, actuating mechanism connectedfto said slide-blockfor imparting oscillations to said arm, and means 'for shiftmg saidslide-block in said arcuate slot, said lastnamed means including apivotal bracket located beneath said intermittent actuated device andvsupported for swlnging'movement'about an" axis,

a screw-threaded adjustingirod journaled for'rotation in said "bracketand tl'ireadedinto said threaded adjusting rod against en'dwi'semovement relative to said bracket, and means provided at 12. Afeed-regulator adapted for use in a groupi stitch sewing machine havinga, feed-shaft, co nprising, an intermittent actuateddevicecfor'imparting operative movements tosaid feed-shaft,

an arm secured to said intermittent actuated de- 10 2,334,154 v V t 5vice and having an arcuate slot formed therein, a slide disposed in saidslot; a pivot-block fulcrumed on said slide and adapted to be connectedto mechanism for oscillating said arm about the axis of said feed-shaft,a bracket, means pivotally supporting said bracket, and a screw-threadedadjusting screw 'journaled in said bracket and threaded into saidpivot-block.

V ALFRED R. WOOD.

